Help! My baby doesn't want to eat..?

Question

..table foods, grrr. She's still into her organic veggie jars and breast milk. I tried some ice cream and it worked pretty well. Other than that... no chance.
She only plays with food, puts it in her hair etc. Small cut bread is ok at times but most of that stuff lands on the carpet.
My daughter is 16 months old and VERY active.

Oh, and Gerber finger foods are good.

Would a food processor make sense?

These baby glasses are complete meals with grains and that. We tried banana/avocados already..
And yes, she can feed herself - if she wants to.

Answer 1

My daughter's Dr. said not to worry so much as long as there is no decline that I can see in he health that kids will eat when they are hungry. She might have a texture issue, or maybe cutting more teeth.

Answer 2

If the organic veggie jars disappear, then baby will have to eat what's presented, hmm? If she's playing with the food it's because she's not hungry. Feed her little chunks of cheese and cooled scrambled eggs. Little chunks of banana and yogurt.

A friend of mine has a 6 month old who already holds her own spoon and tries to feed herself (she sometimes forgets to let mom refill the spoon).

At the end of the next meal, introduce your child to pudding or applesauce and spoons. Let her learn how to get it eaten. Take your table food, mash it up well, and serve it with a spoon. If baby is hungry, she'll eat. When she's tried hard, gotten some of the food in, you can nurse her. Food first, then nursing.

By the way, either purchase a tarp or use newspaper, but baby's high chair needs to be someplace where the carpet is protected.

TX Mom
not an expert in child nutrition or psychology, though mine are 17 and 21 and wonderful kids.

Answer 3

What about fruit shakes? (bananas, apples, milk and an egg yolk raw) In the mixer! so easy..
or
Pieces of cheese
dried apricots
grits made with milk and butter
corn
rice
sliced fruit - apples

In any case the trick is that everyone
is eating the same thing all together.
No special foods for babys.
When she´s hungry she will eat.
Babies don´t starve themselves
but they do follow good/bad examples!

And YES to breastmilk up to 2 years or more!!!!

Answer 4

Do you let her feed herself?

Does she want you to feed her?

Have you tried first table food, then offering breast milk?

As long as she is getting a good amount of breast milk, and some protein (chicken, tofu...) she should be fine, but I would talk to her doctor at the next visit. S/he may be able to provide some insights.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Different children develop interests at different times.

How many 3 year olds eat jarred baby food?

Try introducing yogurt. Bits of banana and avacado. Real food, done up for a baby.

Her belly is only the size of her fist. She doesn't probably require as much as you think.

Answer 6

If she can feed herself if she wants to, then if you put food in front of her and she doesn't eat it she isn't hungry. Remember even at 16 months. She may also prefer the social aspect of eating, if you give her table food and walk away (not literally, but go off to do the dishes or whatever) she isn't going to be happy. You could try fork feeding her table food. Or just make sure that you sit across from her and make "conversation" while eating.

Also it isn't abnormal for her to be getting no more than 25% of her caloric intake from non-breastmilk sources. Despite everything you have heard to the contrary about breastmilk not having enough whatever (iron, zinc, protein, etc), whenever they study blood levels of these nutrients in babies and toddlers they find out (shockingly) that even though breastmilk has "low levels" the baby is getting enough. That is because nutrients in breastmilk are much, much better utilized than from any other food. It is actually diets rich in grains and poor in either breastmilk or meat/meat substitutes that are deficient in iron, zinc and protein.

There is also NO evidence that limiting breastmilk will increase solid intake, and in fact often reduces caloric intake.


http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/toddler-foods.html
Some toddlers are eating very few solids, or even no solids, at 12 months. This is not unusual and really depends on your child - there is quite a big variation. We like to see breastmilk making up the majority (around 75%) of baby's diet at 12 months. Some babies will be taking more solids by 12 months, but others will still be exclusively or almost-exclusively breastfed at this point. It is normal for baby to keep breastmilk as the primary part of his diet up until 18 months or even longer.


http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html
It's not uncommon for weaning to be recommended for toddlers who are eating few solids. However, this recommendation is not supported by research. According to Sally Kneidel in "Nursing Beyond One Year" (New Beginnings, Vol. 6 No. 4, July-August 1990, pp. 99-103.):

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1651-2227.1998.tb01518.x
he results indicate that in a group of healthy, well growing 12-month-old Swedish infants one-quarter is iron-depleted, although iron deficiency anaemiau is rare, and one-third may be zinc-depleted. The high cereal intake of Swedish infants from 6 months of age may have limited the bioavailability of both iron and zinc from the diet.

http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVDec99Jan00p130.html
If protein, zinc, or other nutrients are not provided in solid foods, the amount a baby receives from breast milk could be insufficient for optimal growth during the weaning period. Therefore, adding meat to the diet early in the weaning period may be beneficial.

http://www.westonaprice.org/children/nourish-baby.html
Finally, respect the tiny, still-developing digestive system of your infant. Babies have limited enzyme production, which is necessary for the digestion of foods. In fact, it takes up to 28 months, just around the time when molar teeth are fully developed, for the big-gun carbohydrate enzymes (namely amylase) to fully kick into gear. Foods like cereals, grains and breads are very challenging for little ones to digest. Thus, these foods should be some of the last to be introduced. (One carbohydrate enzyme a baby's small intestine does produce is lactase, for the digestion of lactose in milk.1)

Answer 7

the only thing I can say is that she will eat when she gets hungry just stop with the jars and then she wont really have a choice. Maybe what she wants is you to feed her. And on a side note arent those sharp baby teeth hurting you?

Answer 8

my daughter is 19mnths old and wouldnt eat anything for abt 2month from 15 - 17months. Problem was she was teething, and her back molar was coming out, so everytime she would try to chew with her gums it would hurt her. Maybe that could be it?

Answer 9

Quit buying the baby food. It is not enough nutrition for a child her age. Don't give sweets if she refuses other foods or that is all she will want. She will eat what you offer if she is hungry enough.

Answer 10

maybe you should try feeding it to her. even though she can feed herself it sounds like she is having more of a game out of it than actually feeding herself.